Cadets Win Sixth Straight

The Cadets registered 362 yards and five touchdowns on the ground en route to a 45-24 Senior Day 2011 win in front of nearly 1,000 fans at Sabine Field. NU (6-3 overall, 6-0 ECFC) got a strong start from junior kick returner Brandon Rudd (New Haven, Conn.) as he weaved his way down the field for an 82-yard touchdown on the opening kickoff.

NU's offense continued to be efficient throughout the first half, scoring on four of its six drives to hold a 28-10 halftime lead. Following Rudd's kickoff return, senior Andrew Fulford (Gloucester, Mass.) and junior quarterback Kris Sabourin (Georgia, Vt.) combined for the next three scores. Fulford, as part of an 18-carry, 116-yard day, found a seam and roared down the sideline for a 30-yard score, while Sabourin, also hitting triple figures on the ground, scored from seven and 65 yards as part of a 12-carry, 104-yard day.

Fulford added his second rushing score of the day to close a 10-play, 74-yard march in the third quarter, and junior Danny Triplett (Haverhill, Mass.) rushed into the end zone from 30 yards out to spotlight the second half. Senior place-kicker Long Ding (Qing Dao, China) drilled a 40-yard field goal to make the Cadets' point total 45.

Anna Maria, despite slipping to 0-8 overall and 0-5 in the ECFC, stayed closed throughout behind the arm of junior quarterback Santino Simone. He connected for three scores to go with his 157 passing yards. The AmCats also had a 100-yard-plus rushing effort from sophomore running back Robert Small who finished with 21 carries for 121 yards.

NU closes the 2011 regular season with a key road trip to Throggs Head, N.Y. Saturday, Nov. 5, for an ECFC clash of unbeatens against SUNY-Maritime. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

NOTES: Saturday's win moved the Maroon and Gold to 18-2 in ECFC play all-time which includes a 10-0 record at Sabine Field. … It was also the third time in the last four games the Cadets had been in the 40-point-plus area. … Sabourin scored a rushing touchdown for the fifth straight game. He has eight in the span.